The Problem with Mason Jars
I'm going just say it: putting your animal in a space that's too small for them is cruelty.
But! That being said, if you're like me (and nearly every other betta owner out there), cruelty is probably where you started, and now the only other direction to go is up, up, up!! Into better places, higher education, larger fish tanks!! Hooray!!!
So the reason I say Mason Jar fish "tanks" are animal cruelty? Well, first off, imagine living--full time!-- in a small, cramped closet that maaaayyyybe has some light, and food sometimes, some giant piece of junk in the middle of it, and a permanently locked door. Now imagine that you eat, sleep, and defecate in this room. That's the life for your Mason Jar betta fish. Sorry to say, but that's not a life worth living.
Now you may be thinking, He's swimming around! He's brightly colored and happy!
First of all, betta fish are hardy animals. But just because they can live in that environment doesn't mean they're living life to the fullest. Bettas need at least 2.5 gallons (some go as far as to say 5 gallons, but for the purpose of my blog we'll go with 2.5) of water in order to swim around and be free to roam. And yes, bettas roam. Bettas, when truly happy and healthy, learn tricks, roam, pace, dance, flare, cuddle, nip and jump. They're eclectic and adorable, and worth every penny you spend on them.
The other problem with mason jars is they often build up in toxins way too fast, which means daily water changes are a must. This can be fixed by putting the animal into a tank with a filter.
Unfortunately for many, the fish-keeping hobby is expensive. However, it doesn't have to be. Dollar-per-gallon sales and kits make things cheaper, as do second-hand sources like Goodwill, Facebook, and Freecycle. For every person looking to get into the hobby, there's someone who's looking to get out of it, and that means plenty of cool, gently-used tanks. Be wary, though, some used tanks may need to be resealed, so fill it with regular water and let it sit for a while to check for leaks. If it does need to be resealed, make sure you do your research beforehand on how to do it.
I know this is a small post, and I know I could do better, but right now I'm just happy to be posting something to be honest, and there's nothing else I know to say. If you'd like to hear more on this topic, or share your experience with mason jars and how to upgrade from them, I'd love to hear from you! Send me an email at juliebettablog@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
But! That being said, if you're like me (and nearly every other betta owner out there), cruelty is probably where you started, and now the only other direction to go is up, up, up!! Into better places, higher education, larger fish tanks!! Hooray!!!
So the reason I say Mason Jar fish "tanks" are animal cruelty? Well, first off, imagine living--full time!-- in a small, cramped closet that maaaayyyybe has some light, and food sometimes, some giant piece of junk in the middle of it, and a permanently locked door. Now imagine that you eat, sleep, and defecate in this room. That's the life for your Mason Jar betta fish. Sorry to say, but that's not a life worth living.
Now you may be thinking, He's swimming around! He's brightly colored and happy!
First of all, betta fish are hardy animals. But just because they can live in that environment doesn't mean they're living life to the fullest. Bettas need at least 2.5 gallons (some go as far as to say 5 gallons, but for the purpose of my blog we'll go with 2.5) of water in order to swim around and be free to roam. And yes, bettas roam. Bettas, when truly happy and healthy, learn tricks, roam, pace, dance, flare, cuddle, nip and jump. They're eclectic and adorable, and worth every penny you spend on them.
The other problem with mason jars is they often build up in toxins way too fast, which means daily water changes are a must. This can be fixed by putting the animal into a tank with a filter.
Unfortunately for many, the fish-keeping hobby is expensive. However, it doesn't have to be. Dollar-per-gallon sales and kits make things cheaper, as do second-hand sources like Goodwill, Facebook, and Freecycle. For every person looking to get into the hobby, there's someone who's looking to get out of it, and that means plenty of cool, gently-used tanks. Be wary, though, some used tanks may need to be resealed, so fill it with regular water and let it sit for a while to check for leaks. If it does need to be resealed, make sure you do your research beforehand on how to do it.
I know this is a small post, and I know I could do better, but right now I'm just happy to be posting something to be honest, and there's nothing else I know to say. If you'd like to hear more on this topic, or share your experience with mason jars and how to upgrade from them, I'd love to hear from you! Send me an email at juliebettablog@gmail.com or leave a comment below!
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